EPICENTER Major 2019: Vici Gaming play with Team Liquid at the final of the upper bracket
Ihor MatusOn yesterday's game day Vici Gaming defeated Gambit Esports at a very easy battle leaving no chance to their opponents. The first map lasted 36 minutes, the second — 22. TNC Predator who faced with ViCi a bit later took part in a very spectacular match against Royal Never Give Up. There the first map was gained by TNC for 30 minutes. The players from Southeast Asia had a significant advantage on the second map and they were going to finish the game when Royal Never Give Up showed a great game turning the battle upside down. The second map lasted very long, 76 minutes, and in the end RNG got the win. The draft stage ended up on the third map for TNC Predator and it was noticed both analysts and spectators. Nevertheless, Kuku and his teammates was so indignant with the fact that they lost the previous map that they won the decisive battle in 18 minutes, almost twice faster than the first map which seemed to be very quick. Thanks to the performance TNC Predator made it to Six Best and provided themselves with minimal prize of $60,000 and 900 Dota Pro Circuit Points. Thanks to the calculation, we can notice that TNC have already provided themselves with a chance to participate in The International 2019. They took the ninth place in the DPC rating list with the results of 1596 points.
At the semifinal Vici Gaming met with TNC Predator and the battle was rather cruel. The first map was gained by TNC Predator and it was not fast as it finished 52 minutes after the start. Meanwhile, ViCi didn't lose themselves and managed to win over their opponents on the second map in 48 minutes. After they got the pace, the Chinese defeated Kuku and the team much faster on the last map, 30 minutes. It let VIci Gaming get to Four Best participants in EPICENTER Major 2019 and provide themselves with $80,000 and 1,350 Dota Pro Circuit Points as a minimum prize.
On 25 June, two matches of the lower bracket also took place. Evil Geniuses and OG were playing at one of them. We should mark that OG were not as strong as usually due to the fact that their captain n0tail, had some issues with his health, so he couldn't perform together with his teammates. Nevertheless, OG played with their coach Sockshka so well that they were able to win over one of the strongest teams in North America. Evil Geniuses were one of the first to leave the championship taking the 13-16 place there. Their participation resulted in a money prize of $10,000 and 75 DPC Points. By the way, EG have 6825 points and have already provided themselves with a chance to perform at The International 2019.
Also Infamous left the competition when they lost the match against Alliance. Unlike the battle between OG and EG, which lasted almost for 52 minutes, we could spend 35 minutes observing battle of the European teams which resulted in the end of Infamous' participation in the tournament and the 13-16 place. As well as Evil Geniuses, the Europeans got a consolation prize of $10,000 and 75 Dota Pro Circuit Points.
Matches history: EPICENTER Major 2019
EPICENTER Major 2019 is taking place from 22 till 30 June. The prize pool of the last Major consists of $1,000,000 and 15,000 Dota Pro Circuit Points. The winner will get the main prize of $350,000 and 4,950 DPC Points.